Cardinals chat with Derrick Goold

Bring your Cardinals questions and comments, and talk to Post-Dispatch baseball writer Derrick Goold in a live chat.at 1 p.m.

That makes no sense. He has an option. Why not have him play in Memphis?

by Derrick Goold3/13/2017 6:41:24 PM

I completely agree with your list of 12 pitchers and your thoughts on Lyons possibly being better to keep than Soco. But, would it be that hard to logistically keep Lyons on the DL even if he was technically ready? At least for a few weeks of the season. By that point there's a pretty good chance someone will have been injured or pitched themselves out of a job.

by Jhohnnhy3/13/2017 6:41:36 PM

Right now, Lyons is targeted to start the year on the DL. No one will say that but the schedule reveals all.

by Derrick Goold3/13/2017 6:41:58 PM

seems to me people who like baseball, not just the cardinals should love the WBC. Its extra baseball! What's there not to like?

by brps3/13/2017 6:42:09 PM

I can understand that. I've been watching it.

by Derrick Goold3/13/2017 6:42:22 PM

Is Greg Garcia definitely making it to STL at the start of the season?

by AdamVag3/13/2017 6:42:27 PM

I bet Hochman is the kind of guy that is sporting socks with his sandals. Long sucks pulled all the way up. And the kind of sandals with the Velcro straps I'm thinking

by Aaron W3/13/2017 6:43:34 PM

He's earned it. And he fits a need. And he's valuable on the bench. That's the hat trick.

by Derrick Goold3/13/2017 6:43:34 PM

by Derrick Goold3/13/2017 6:45:21 PM

Who are you rooting for in the world baseball classic

by Grich25423/13/2017 6:45:30 PM

Interesting question. It's either no one, or the U.S. I'm not sure what the protocol on that is. I usually don't "root" at baseball games because I'm covering baseball games. Heck, even when I go back to Mizzou for a game, I don't root because that's been bled out of me by this job and I might cover the Tigers ballclub or other stuff there at some point. So, as I sort through this in real time, I guess I'm not rooting for anything but a good tournament. I do wish, as an American, that our baseball team does well. There's a national element to it, and I dig when the U.S. does well in the Olympics even when I've covered them. The only time I really find myself rooting these days is when watching FC Barcelona. I figure, I'll never cover Barca.

by Derrick Goold3/13/2017 6:48:01 PM

Is Survivor: Jupiter still happening and if so, who is still surviving?

by jaredshane3/13/2017 6:48:05 PM

I wish. It's not. This year it never really got off the ground. A splti-squad on Day 3 really ruined it.

by Derrick Goold3/13/2017 6:48:23 PM

Internet has crashed at RDS. One second please.

by Derrick Goold3/13/2017 6:50:15 PM

If Pham doesn't make the 25 man roster, will he be released, sent down or does he have trade value?

by Madisoncardsfan3/13/2017 6:50:32 PM

He has an option year remaining.

by Derrick Goold3/13/2017 6:50:40 PM

I hear Colorado is looking for a 1st baseman. Too bad M Carpenters' hurt again because now it looks like they're going to need Matt Adams. Hope Carpenter is turning out to be a JD Drew II?

by Double D3/13/2017 6:50:46 PM

That seems like a very unusual and inaccurate comparison. If anything, Carpenter has already had by far a more robust career with the Cardinals. He has been an All-Star three times. For all of his talent, Drew wasn't an All-Star until long after he left the Cardinals. And, yes, Colorado could be in the hunt for a first baseman. We'll see how that develops. There were talks before. But that was during the Cardinals' search for a CF.

by Derrick Goold3/13/2017 6:52:20 PM

The Cards website shows Piscotty with a .130 avg. for spring. I don't put much stock in the number itself, but I have to ask if you have seen anything in his at bats that should give fans concern?

by Chris3/13/2017 6:52:26 PM

Your concern should be lower than his average.

by Derrick Goold3/13/2017 6:52:38 PM

Hi DG. Listening to The Bernie Show this morning, Bernie chastised an incident where Butera went in hard against his club teammate, Salvador Perez, in the WBC. He essentially thought Butera should go easy on him because they're teammates outside the WBC. As a soccer fan, all I could think about was how awful the World Cup would be if, say, Gerard Pique of Spain didn't defend as hard against Lionel Messi of Argentina because they both play for Barcelona. I was curious what your take might be though, both on the WBC and whether you think club teammates should be less competitive with each other in the international contests. Thanks!

by AdamB3/13/2017 6:52:58 PM

When the WBC matters like the World Cup get back to me. We're talking about a pre-season tournament that is not, by schedule, geared to have players at their best. As long as they are imposing pitching rules and pampering the arms to keep them fresh for the regular season and their pro clubs, then we can also expect the players to ease off the throttle on the bases. The World Cup is the premiere event on the soccer calendar and has a wealth of history and importance that the WBC only fever-dreams about having. Let's be honest. I can see what the big guy is saying, and he has a point.

by Derrick Goold3/13/2017 6:54:37 PM

I see Gyorko homered. 30 homers in 400 ab's and can't get an everyday job over Jhonny Peralta or Kolton Wong. Ridiculous.

by Jsh783/13/2017 6:54:41 PM

Noted.

by Derrick Goold3/13/2017 6:54:46 PM

Mr. Goold: During Sephen Piscotty's first at-bat, both Dan McLaughlin and Al Hrabosky said Piscotty was working on things. That's it. No explanation. Are you privy to what things Piscotty is working on this spring, or is that a state secret? Whatever it is, it doesn't seem to be working, not with a .130 BA. Thanks.

by Bruce3/13/2017 6:54:54 PM

I am. Trust me. I have been working on this most of the day when not chatting with you. Stephen Piscotty and I spoke for about 25 minutes this morning. I hope to do it justice in tomorrow's paper.

by Derrick Goold3/13/2017 6:55:24 PM

Does Mag Sierra have the kind of ceiling that with some good play he could be a top 100 prospect next year?

by Alex3/13/2017 6:55:27 PM

Yes. Top 75 even. Depending on the coming draft. But he's a top talent, sure.

by Derrick Goold3/13/2017 6:55:45 PM

How is Martinez defensively at 1B? Better than Gyorko? Holiday? If Marp is on DL to start season, are we looking at Adams fulltime or Adams/Martinez/Gyorko platoon?

by bh3/13/2017 6:55:50 PM

I'm going to go with ... no. Not at this point. He's a big target and he has a good reach, and that is something that Gyorko doesn't have. Martinez really lacks instincts around the base. And you can see that in his footwork or even how he reads play. Now, those can be developed. They can even be developed on the job. We all saw that happen with Matt Holliday last spring, and he did improve. Martinez is ahead of where Holliday was at this time. He has the athleticism there to make it happen, and he has the reach and feel to compensate for what he doesn't know about the position with what he can do just about at any position. He's not a guy to start there regularly. But he can field the position if needed.

by Derrick Goold3/13/2017 6:57:21 PM

What prevents the Cardinals from turning the page on Tommy Pham? Most of us see strikeouts and injuries and not much else. But the Cardinals always keep him around, always have him in the spring mix. So what is it that they're seeing in Pham?

by Heity Cruz3/13/2017 6:57:32 PM

Genuine interest in keeping depth when it comes to athletes, center fielders, and fastball-hitters.

by Derrick Goold3/13/2017 6:57:58 PM

Why is Piscotty trying a new swing??

by Jsh783/13/2017 6:58:02 PM

Stanford-honed curiosity and the promise of being better.

by Derrick Goold3/13/2017 6:58:38 PM

How cold would Martinez have to go the rest of Spring training to be left off the roster at this point? There is no way he could be left off the big league roster, right? Dude can straight rake!

by STLSPortsfan3143/13/2017 6:58:44 PM

Real cold. Like ice-pack cold. Like ice-pack from an injury cold.

by Derrick Goold3/13/2017 6:59:01 PM

Any chance Broxton fails to make team/is released? It's hard to believe he's among the team's best 7 relievers, particularly once Lyons returns.

by Ryan3/13/2017 6:59:05 PM

No. Not at this time.

by Derrick Goold3/13/2017 6:59:12 PM

Hi Derrick. Been meaning to ask you - about 4 weeks ago when you did that piece on Lance Lynn and his daughter, the three photos of her were with her back to the camera. Was that intentional?

by Dave3/13/2017 6:59:29 PM

what do you believe is the ceiling for Dakota Hudson and Jack Flaherty? Are they potentially top-end starters?

by Lou Brock3/13/2017 7:00:46 PM

Flaherty has that profile. Hudson is wipe-out, nasty reliever in the making.